Prokopis Pavlopoulos

In an exclusive article for Kathimerini on the occasion of his official visit to Athens, which started Sunday and will conclude on Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping has underlined the need to boost cooperation between Athens and Beijing on all levels.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hami Aksoy has accused Greece of "inhumane practices" against Turkish minorities and of "taking sides" with "hostile circles against Turkey."

Greece and Israel are on the same page regarding the situation in the wider region and on the need to find "new ways" to further increase military cooperation between the two countries, according to Israeli diplomatic sources' comments following visiting Foreign Minister Israel Katz's round of talks in Athens Thursday.

Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz is in Greece for an official two-day visit, the embassy announced Wednesday.
According to the Greek foreign ministry, Katz will meet with Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias at 1.15 p.m. on Thursday, with talks focusing on defense and energy issues. They will also discuss the latest developments in the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.

President Prokopis Pavlopoulos welcomed the European Commission's Vice President-designate Margaritis Schinas on Wednesday who is on a two-day visit to the Greek capital.

Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg will visit Greece on Thursday to meet with Greek officials, the alliance said in a statement.

Stoltenberg will meet with President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and hold a press conference with the latter at 7 p.m.
The NATO top official will previously visit Rome on Wednesday and then Istanbul on Friday.

Greece's Environment Ministry plans to extend a ban on construction activity on the slopes of Mount Hymettus in Attica through October 2020.
A legislative act is to be signed Tuesday by President Prokopis Pavlopoulos. The ministry is essentially seeking to buy time until the issuing of a presidential decree designed to protect Mount Hymettus, a sensitive ecosystem.

The incoming Ambassador of Israel to Greece, Yossi Amrani, has presented his credentials to Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos.

Flying enthusiasts watch Hellenic Air Force helicopters participate in the Tanagra International Air Show, part of Athens Flying Week, at the Tanagra Air Base on Saturday. The air show, which took place for the eighth year in a row, drew some 60,000 visitors from across Greece and 4,000 from abroad.

Germany's new Ambassador to Greece, Dr Ernst Reichel, said on Friday Athens and Berlin are "partners and friends" and can work to build a better present and future for the two countries.